Robotic Excavation. on the MoonPATNA: A team of 11 students of Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Patna, has developed a robot which could help NASA in soil excavation on the moon. This robot will be put on display at Kennedy Space Centre, Florida, US, from May 21 to 26.
According to the group member, Saurav Murarka, the team, at the 2nd lunabotics competition for NASA in the US last year, had presented a robot for tracking system. "We decided to participate in the 3rd lunabotics mining competition this time and NASA invited us to present our robot between May 21 and 26," Saurav said.
About 60 teams from different countries have been selected to present their robots at the competition, he said, adding that the competition would focus on the excavation of maximum amount of lunar regolith from the moon surface.
According to Saurav, the robot this time is smaller in size and lesser in weight, compared to last year. Besides, it is to be self-controlled and collect regolith from the arena. The team is almost ready with the robot. It is on the test stage, he said. The basic excavating system fitted with the robot includes bucket elevator which will carry soil samples from surface to a collecting pit point.
"This time, we have used CIM motors, linear actuators and sensors purchased from the US. These are not available in India. Our robot is able to move by itself, sensing the environment and saving itself from hurdles," the team members said.
According to them, this project cost about Rs 14 lakh with financial assistance from the college, BIT alumni, Beltron, ECIL and Indian Oil. However, the robot-making team needed more financial support to reach NASA by May 18, they said. The team consists of faculty advisor Prof M A Hassan, Rajat Tyagi, Anurag Reddy, Anmol Sharma, Viswa Teja, Shreyak Tiwari, Satyasheel, Arvind Pavithran, Pooja Mahanty, Arushi Singh and Vikash.
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